Train
A train is a form of transport consisting of a series of connected vehicles that generally runs along a railroad track to transport cargo or passengers. The word “train” comes from the Old French trahiner, derived from the Latin trahere meaning “to pull” or “to draw”.Motive power for a train is provided by a separate locomotive or individual motors in a self-propelled multiple unit. Although historically steam propulsion dominated, the most common types of locomotive are diesel and electric, the latter supplied by overhead wires or additional rails. Trains can also be hauled by horses, pulled by engine or water-driven cable or wire winch, run downhill using gravity, or powered by pneumatics, gas turbines or batteries.
The track usually consists of two running rails with a fixed spacing, which may be supplemented by additional rails such as electric conducting rails and rack rails. Monorails and maglev guideways are also used occasionally.A passenger train includes passenger-carrying vehicles and can often be very long and fast. One notable and growing long-distance train category is high-speed rail. In order to achieve much faster operation at speeds of over 500 km/h (310 mph), innovative maglev technology has been the subject of research for many years. The term “light rail” is sometimes used to refer to a modern tram system, but it may also mean an intermediate form between a tram and a train, similar to a heavy rail rapid transit system. In most countries, the distinction between a tramway and a railway is precise and defined in law.
A freight train (or goods train) uses freight cars (or wagons/trucks) to transport goods or materials (cargo). It is possible to carry passengers and freight in the same train using a mixed consist.
Rail cars and machinery that are used for the maintenance and repair of tracks, are termed “maintenance of way” equipment; these may be assembled into maintenance of way trains. Similarly, dedicated trains may be used to provide support services to stations along a train line, such as garbage or revenue collection.
Rail (noun)
A horizontal bar extending between supports and used for support or as a barrier; a railing.
Rail (noun)
The metal bar that makes the track for a railroad.
Rail (noun)
A railroad; a railway, as a means of transportation.
“We travelled to the seaside by rail.”
“a small Scottish village not accessible by rail”
Rail (noun)
A horizontal piece of wood that serves to separate sections of a door or window.
Rail (noun)
One of the lengthwise edges of a surfboard.
Rail (noun)
A vertical section on one side of a web page.
“We’re experimenting with ads in the right-hand rail.”
Rail (noun)
A large line.
Rail (noun)
Any of several birds in the family Rallidae.
Rail (noun)
An item of clothing; a cloak or other garment; a dress.
Rail (noun)
Specifically, a woman’s headscarf or neckerchief.
Rail (verb)
To travel by railway.
Rail (verb)
To enclose with rails or a railing.
Rail (verb)
To range in a line.
Rail (verb)
To complain violently (against, about).
Rail (verb)
To gush, flow.
Train (noun)
Elongated portion.
Train (noun)
The elongated back portion of a dress or skirt (or an ornamental piece of material added to similar effect), which drags along the ground. from 14th c.
“Unfortunately, the leading bridesmaid stepped on the bride’s train as they were walking down the aisle.”
Train (noun)
A trail or line of something, especially gunpowder. from 15th c.
Train (noun)
The tail of a bird.
Train (noun)
A transient trail of glowing ions behind a large meteor as it falls through the atmosphere.
Train (noun)
Connected sequence of people or things.
Train (noun)
An animal’s trail or track. from 16th c.
Train (noun)
A group of people following an important figure, king etc.; a retinue, a group of retainers. from 14th c.
Train (noun)
A group of animals, vehicles, or people that follow one another in a line, such as a wagon train; a caravan or procession. from 15th c.
“Our party formed a train at the funeral parlor before departing for the burial.”
Train (noun)
A sequence of events or ideas which are interconnected; a course or procedure of something. from 15th c.
Train (noun)
The men and vehicles following an army, which carry artillery and other equipment for battle or siege. from 16th c.
Train (noun)
A set of interconnected mechanical parts which operate each other in sequence. from 18th c.
Train (noun)
A series of electrical pulses. from 19th c.
Train (noun)
A series of specified vehicles, originally tramcars in a mine, and later especially railway carriages, coupled together. from 19th c.
Train (noun)
A line of connected railway cars or carriages considered overall as a mode of transport; (as uncountable noun) rail travel. from 19th c.
“The train will pull in at midday.”
Train (noun)
A long, heavy sleigh used in Canada for the transportation of merchandise, wood, etc.
Train (noun)
A software release schedule.
Train (noun)
Treachery; deceit. 14th-19th c.
Train (noun)
A trick or stratagem. 14th-19th c.
Train (noun)
A trap for animals; a snare. 14th-18th c.
Train (noun)
A lure; a decoy. 15th-18th c.
Train (verb)
To practice an ability.
“She trained seven hours a day to prepare for the Olympics.”
Train (verb)
To teach and form by practice; to educate; to exercise with discipline.
“You can’t train a pig to write poetry.”
Train (verb)
To improve one’s fitness.
“I trained with weights all winter.”
Train (verb)
To proceed in sequence.
Train (verb)
To move (a gun) laterally so that it points in a different direction.
“The assassin had trained his gun on the minister.”
Train (verb)
To encourage (a plant or branch) to grow in a particular direction or shape, usually by pruning and bending.
“The vine had been trained over the pergola.”
Train (verb)
To trace (a lode or any mineral appearance) to its head.
Train (verb)
To create a trainer for; to apply cheats to (a game).
Train (verb)
To draw along; to trail; to drag.
Train (verb)
To draw by persuasion, artifice, or the like; to attract by stratagem; to entice; to allure.
Rail (noun)
a bar or series of bars fixed on upright supports or attached to a wall or ceiling, serving as part of a barrier or used to hang things on
“a curtain rail”
Rail (noun)
the inside boundary fence of a racecourse.
Rail (noun)
a steel bar or continuous line of bars laid on the ground as one of a pair forming a railway track
“the goods train left the rails”
Rail (noun)
railways as a means of transport
“rail fares”
“travelling by rail”
Rail (noun)
the edge of a surfboard or sailboard.
Rail (noun)
a horizontal piece in the frame of a panelled door or sash window.
Rail (noun)
a conductor which is maintained at a fixed potential and to which other parts of a circuit are connected
“the anode must be connected to the positive supply rail”
Rail (noun)
a secretive bird with drab grey and brown plumage, typically having a long bill and found in dense waterside vegetation.
Rail (verb)
provide or enclose (a space or place) with a rail or rails
“the altar is railed off from the nave”
Rail (verb)
convey (goods) by rail
“perishables were railed into Manhattan”
Rail (verb)
(in windsurfing) sail the board on its edge
“the more you pull down on the boom, the more you rail”
Rail (verb)
complain or protest strongly and persistently about
“he railed at human fickleness”
Train (verb)
teach (a person or animal) a particular skill or type of behaviour through sustained practice and instruction
“the scheme trains people for promotion”
“the dogs are trained to sniff out illegal stowaways”
Train (verb)
be taught through sustained practice and instruction
“he trained as a plumber”
Train (verb)
develop and improve (a mental or physical faculty) through instruction or practice
“an alert mind and trained eye give astute evaluations”
Train (verb)
cause (a plant) to grow in a particular direction or into a required shape
“they trained crimson ramblers over their houses”
Train (verb)
undertake a course of exercise and diet in order to reach or maintain peak physical fitness in preparation for a specific sport or event
“she trains three times a week”
Train (verb)
prepare (a person or animal) for a particular sport or event with a course of exercise and diet
“the horse was trained in Paris”
Train (verb)
reduce one’s weight through diet and exercise in order to be fit for a particular event
“he trained down to heavyweight”
Train (verb)
point or aim something, typically a gun or camera, at
“the detective trained his gun on the side door”
Train (verb)
go by train
“Charles trained to London with Emma”
Train (verb)
entice (someone).
Train (noun)
a series of connected railway carriages or wagons moved by a locomotive or by integral motors
“a freight train”
“the journey took two hours by train”
Train (noun)
a number of vehicles or pack animals moving in a line
“a camel train”
Train (noun)
a retinue of attendants accompanying an important person
“a minister and his train of attendants”
Train (noun)
a series of gears or other connected parts in machinery
“a train of gears”
Train (noun)
a series of connected events or thoughts
“I failed to follow his train of thought”
“the train of events leading to Pascoe’s death”
Train (noun)
a long piece of material attached to the back of a formal dress or robe that trails along the ground
“the bride wore a cream silk dress with a train”
Train (noun)
a trail of gunpowder for firing an explosive charge.